This bill is a comprehensive education reform proposal in the Minnesota House of Representatives, authored by Representative Jordan. It includes modifications to existing K-12 education policies and statutes covering general education, education excellence, charter schools, literacy programs under the READ Act, special education, school nutrition, and state agency reporting requirements.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

1. General Education (Article 1)

• Standards Development: Requires engaging a broader range of stakeholders in developing academic standards for language arts, math, science, social studies, health, and the arts.
• Credit Equivalencies: Expands options for students to fulfill academic credits using career and technical education, Project Lead the Way, and ethnic studies courses.
• Postsecondary Enrollment (PSEO): Adjusts eligibility and reporting requirements for students enrolling in PSEO courses, including changes for 9th and 10th graders.
• Adult Basic Education Programs: Extends approval periods for programs from five to six years to improve program stability.

2. Education Excellence (Article 2)

• School Performance Reporting: Enhances student performance reporting by requiring disaggregation of data across more racial and ethnic groups.
• Anti-Bullying Policies: Strengthens anti-bullying requirements by improving reporting, disciplinary responses, and data-sharing policies.
• Mental Health Systems in Schools: Establishes comprehensive school mental health systems (CSMHS) to support student well-being.
• Kindergarten Entry Assessment: Mandates that all school districts and charter schools assess incoming kindergarten students to evaluate school readiness.

3. Charter Schools (Article 3)

• Updated Definitions: Introduces definitions for charter management organizations (CMOs) and educational management organizations (EMOs).
• Procurement Transparency: Increases fiscal oversight by requiring competitive bidding for purchases exceeding $25,000 and restricting financial conflicts of interest.
• Financial and Performance Accountability: Requires charter schools to publicly post financial and performance evaluations conducted by their authorizers.
• Mergers and Location Changes: Outlines procedures for charter schools to merge and change locations while maintaining accountability.

4. The READ Act (Article 4)

• Structured Literacy Training: Establishes certification requirements for literacy facilitators who train teachers in structured literacy.
• State Support for Literacy Training: Enhances literacy education through regional literacy networks and coaching from education experts.

Overall Implications

• Accountability & Oversight: Strengthens reporting requirements for student performance, school climate, and fiscal transparency in public and charter schools.
• Educational Flexibility: Expands student options for earning academic credit through career and technical education.
• Student Support Services: Enhances mental health services and anti-bullying protections.
• Early Literacy Focus: Improves teacher training and student assessment in foundational literacy.

This bill represents a broad effort to improve Minnesota’s educational system through policy updates, additional accountability measures, and expanded opportunities for teachers and students.